When the Brooklyn Nets somehow acquired Andrei Kirilenko for the low, low price of $3.18 million for next season (and a player option for roughly the same amount the following season) it was reported that executives around the league were furious, due to what they believed to be foul play, behind the scenes. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov and Kirilenko have ties in Russia, and it was under the assumption that the forward was accommodated in ways that don’t necessarily show in his seemingly too-good-to-be-true contract .
Due to the scrutiny and complaints, the league had decided to investigate the matter. And found zilch, from Fred Kerber of New York Post:
“When there is a formal complaint, the league will look into it,” said one league official who spoke in generalities and refused comment on the Kirilenko issue.
The league launched its investigation, questioning participants. Nets officials were summoned — at one point on a weekend, usually a time off in the summer for league execs.
“It was a very, very thorough investigation,” one source maintained. “They checked everything.”
Marc Fleisher, Kirilenko’s agent, addressed only Kirilenko’s decision to join the Nets. He declined to acknowledge the investigation occurred.
“Basically, the offers and things we had from other teams were too difficult to make happen,” Fleisher said, referring to the necessity of a possible sign-and-trade or complicated deal.
In the end, the chance to play with a valid contender, even for considerably less money, was the final tipping point.
“That was huge,” Fleisher said, “especially once he realized some of the other [offers] weren’t going to happen.”
A spokesperson for Prokhorov said the owner had nothing to add “to what Mikhail’s said already” regarding the Kirilenko deal. Prokhorov addressed the matter in July when the Nets introduced trade acquisitions Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. Kirilenko was vacationing and not available for the press gathering at Barclays Center, which Prokhorov flew in from Russia to attend.
“Old stereotypes, they’re very hard to beat and to break,” Prokhorov said of the suspicious eye cast upon a Russian dealing with a Russian. “I respect all the NBA rules and we play by the NBA rules. But I want just to stress once again, like with luxury tax, I will do whatever I can in order to win championship — but under the NBA rules. Please make no mistake about this.”
Of course they found nothing. In no way can we assume that something illegal went down, but even if it did, would Prokhorov really be sloppy enough to leave evidence to suggest as much regarding such a sensitive situation? The guy is a known multi-billionaire politician, not a chemist turned drug lord. Either way, the NBA has said its final piece about the matter, so the case is officially closed. There will be no penalties of any kind, and Kirilenko will play for the Nets, to the dismay of many.
Onto other news from around the league:
All the members of the New Orleans Pelicans are excited about the upcoming season, from Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld: “Our expectations are always high,” Davis said. “We definitely want to make the playoffs, and beyond. … We’re not sure how it’ll all fit; we’ll have to wait until we get into training camp and get to play with each other. Coach is still working it out, but whatever it is, I know that they’re going to help us make a push for the playoffs.” “We have higher expectations for ourselves than anyone else can have for us,” Williams said in July. “So we don’t pay much attention to that stuff. We’ll evaluate where we are by December and then we’ll understand what kind of team we have, but as of right now we’ve got to put it together.” “For one, we want to have fun,” Holiday said earlier this offseason. “I think that’s the biggest part; having fun with your team. I think I’ve done that every year, especially making it to the playoffs, which were an awesome experience. Getting back there is the ultimate goal.”
